January 20, 2013 [PULSE POLIO 2013]

District Immunization Officer, Kurnool 1

Sunday January 20, 2013

This Sunday, January 20, we embark on our 19th Pulse Polio activity with January 13, being the

anniversary of India’s major polio milestone – marking two years without reporting a single case of polio.

We have proved that ‘it’s possible’ but, we have to keep going! We’re closer than

ever before to eradicating polio globally. Experts once said that eradication in

India was impossible but by proving them wrong, we’ve provided a blueprint for

Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigerian, the only three remaining endemic countries,

to eradicate the disease

January 20, 2013 [PULSE POLIO 2013]

District Immunization Officer, Kurnool 2

Now we’ve reached zero cases, we have to remain vigilant to ensure that the

disease does not return.

Well, there’s a number of underlying causes that include everything from a lack of trained and fully supported health workers to parents refusing to take vaccines. We got past many of these problems by developing an army of vaccinators that were able to reach out to 172 million children each vaccination round but I agree that one of the underlying causes of polio was poor sanitation, hygiene and a lack of clean water. This has an effect on multiple public health challenges and urgent action is indeed needed to solve these big problems.

However, it’s not about any one intervention being the silver bullet to solve all

public health problems, it’s about looking at health holistically and developing a

continuum of care that ensures that from the cradle to the grave, everyone has

the right to access quality health information and services. To do that, a strong

public health movement is needed to ensure that health rises up the political

agenda; strong policies are put in place that are ultimately implemented and

evaluated by the people at the local, State and national levels

And at this juncture, Should we move from vaccination to treatment?

Again we need to be doing everything. I don’t think anyone would deny that those

affected by polio need good health care and support systems to help them cope

with the disease. The right to health is enshrined in our constitution and we must

develop a system to ensure that all people affected by the disease are suitably

treated

As well as making sure that people like Ruksar (the last polio case) are well looked

after, we must also ensure that we vaccinate all children against polio and other

diseases that are preventable. Routine immunization activities should be

strengthened with focus on quality delivery of immunization services. The threat

of polio importation from endemic countries will remain in every country until

polio is wiped out globally. Treatment versus prevention is the wrong paradigm;

we need to be doing both.

January 20, 2013 [PULSE POLIO 2013]

District Immunization Officer, Kurnool 3

If we fail now, polio has shown through history that it is a resilient virus and it will come back. I’m proud of India’s achievement but this is not the time to celebrate. We must remain vigilant nationally and celebrate with the world when we finally reach the golden number for global cases of polio. Zero

We have to ensure that no child in the target age group is left out from the

immunization drive.

"This resolve is necessary to ensure that the strides taken by the nation in its

fight against polio are taken to its logical end," and only such resolve can ensure

that India is a polio free nation in the days ahead.

Achieving polio eradication was one of my life time dreams and I have been

working on polio since 1995. When outbreaks happened, it was like dealing with a

tidal wave that couldn’t be stopped. I’m proud that I am part of history and have

stories to tell my grandchildren

It is most satisfying to see that happening.

At this moment, Let us not forget . . .

Wednesday, December 19, 2012, Safar 05, 1434

4 women among five polio workers shot dead Campaign halted in Karachi - Balochistan govt suspends anti-polio campaign S t a f f R e p o r t e r

January 20, 2013 [PULSE POLIO 2013]

District Immunization Officer, Kurnool 4

Wednesday,

December 19, 2012 -

Karachi—Gunmen

shot dead five health

workers on an anti-

polio drive in a string

of attacks in country

on Tuesday, officials

said, raising fears for

the safety of workers

immunizing children

against the crippling

disease.